Wave-front autoionization: Classical decay of two-electron atoms.

Abstract

When a rapidly decaying, autoionizing Rydberg series is excited with a short pulse, it may decay in a series of discrete ``stair steps,'' separated in time by the classical Rydberg orbit period. A rapid core transition can generate a Rydberg shock front which itself produces stair-step changes in the core dipole moment each time the shock front passes. These core excitations significantly reduce the laser power and bandwidth requirements compared to those used in one-electron-like-atom wave-packet studies, while many of the same effects may be observed.